Details: Witnesses Describe Murder at Inn of the Conchos

SAN ANGELO,TX – Cody Salazar has been arrested for the murder of Daniel Chandler at the Inn of the Conchos in June.

According to court documents, an officer with the San Angelo Police Department responded to the Inn of the Conchos, located at 2021 North Bryant Boulevard, in the very early hours on June 28th, 2021 for the report of a shooting victim.

Investigators spoke with the responding officer, viewed room 225, and observed several spent cartridges on the floor of the room and a deceased man laying on the floor.

After obtaining a search warrant, the investigator entered the room and saw that the victim’s shirt was soaked in blood and had two holes in it. The first hole was in the victim’s chest and the second was in the victim’s lower abdomen.

A detective stated to investigators that they had spoken with a witness, A.P., who had rented the room for the night. A.P. knew Salazar and had texted him saying she was staying in that room. A.P. said Salazar came to the room with a younger hispanic male and that Salazar told everyone to leave room 225.

The detective also interviewed a second witness, V.S., who had stated she was in the room when Salazar and a second person walked in. V.S. said Salazar asked everyone to leave because he had some business to take care of and said the only people left in the room were Salazar, the hispanic male, and another man J.B..

J.B. was interviewed by a detective who stated he left the motel room to smoke a cigarette and after a short time heard what he believed to be gunshots.

Another witness, K.S., also spoke with a detective and identified the victim as Daniel Chandler. K.S. said she and Chandler were in San Angelo to purchase marijuana. K.S. told investigators they were with another man, HV, who entered the room first when they arrived at the motel.

K.S. and Chandler entered the room and were approached by a young hispanic male who closed the door and produced a handgun. The young hispanic male ordered K.S. and Chandler to give him all their money and bags when Salazar entered the room from the bathroom.

Salazar also produced a handgun and Chandler tried to draw a gun as well. Salazar fired several shots towards the victim. K.S. said the younger hispanic male grabbed her bags and both Salazar and the male fled.

K.S. tried to stop the bleeding and ran to the office to call for emergency assistance. When K.S., H.V., and Chandler entered the room, it was only occupied by Cody Salazar and the younger hispanic male. 

Detectives provided a photo lineup containing Salazar and each of the witnesses positively identified him as being in the room at the time of the incident.

Salazar was booked into the TGCDF on Thursday, July 8th, 2021 and is being held on $1,000,000 bond.

Joshua Tyler Garcia has also been charged with murder in the Inn of the Conchos case according to a SAPD press release.